Dream XI West Brom can build

West Bromwich Albion boss James Morrison is currently in the midst of his first summer transfer window as manager after taking over on a permanent basis.

This is his first senior role as a manager and that brings a new challenge for him, as he must build a team capable of pushing for promotion to the Championship.

The Scotland boss has already moved to bring in Barney Stewart from Falkirk and Jimmy-Jay Morgan from Chelsea on permanent deals to bolster the attack, but there is more work to be done to build an XI that can push for a top-eight finish next season.

He has a goalkeeper and defense

Although Max O’Leary has signed a new contract at The Hawthorns, the Baggies could sign their number one after being linked with a move to bring back Alex Palmer from Ipswich Town.

After Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League, it remains to be seen whether or not he will be available on a permanent loan as he has only started ten games in the Championship.

Palmer kept 29 clean sheets in 76 games in his last 18 months in the second tier with the Baggies and could return to be Morrison’s new number one.

Another option for the back four is the permanent signing of Danny Imray, as John Percy reported that the club would like to bring him back after his five-month loan.

That would leave Morrison with a backline of Palmer, Imray, Nat Phillips, George Campbell, and Callum Styles as first choice next season.

In the middle

After Ousmane Diakite penned a new contract with the club recently, not much may have changed in terms of how the team looks in the middle of the park.

Diakite, Jayson Molumby, and Alex Mowatt are a solid set of midfielders, while Isaac Price and Morgan could compete for the number ten spot.

Based on their respective performances at league level in the 2025/26 campaign, the Chelsea youngster may emerge as a better option for Morrison as a starter in the number ten role.

That would mean Molumby’s first-choice midfielder with Diakite replacing Morgan in the number ten spot, while other attacking players allow him to switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Midfielders and strikers

The arrival of Stewart, who scored 18 goals in all competitions for Dunfermline and Falkirk combined last season, means West Brom have competition up front with him and Aune Heggebo.

However, the Baggies need more competition in wide areas as they lack natural width on the right and left, despite Mikey Johnston’s injury.

Motherwell striker Elijah Just, who has scored three World Cup goals, has recently been touted as a £3m target for the club this summer, and would be a dream addition to the right-back squad.

After producing seven goals, creating seven ‘big chances’, and seven assists for Motherwell in the Premiership in the 2025/26 campaign, he could eventually replace Tom Fellows as a left-winger at The Hawthorns.

Meanwhile, the Baggies have been linked with a £3m move to bring Reyes Cleary back to the club from Barnsley, 12 months after selling him to the League One side.

The young England international scored seven goals and provided 13 assists in the third tier last season and could return to the club to be more productive than any of Morrison’s current attackers as a left-back.

After scoring just 48 goals in 46 Championship games, signing two productive wingers in Just and Cleary could give West Brom the lift they need in the final third.

In total, Morrison could make four additions to his best XI, spending at least £6m, without knowing how much Palmer or Imray would cost, to push for promotion next term.

West Brom’s dream starting line-up: Palmer; Imray, Phillips, Campbell, Styles; Diakite, Molumby; Just, Morgan, Cleary; Stewart (4-2-3-1)